CBSE Board Exam 2026 Class 10 & 12 Marks Breakdown Released

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a crucial circular detailing the subject-wise distribution of marks for the upcoming Class 10 and Class 12 Board Examinations 2026. This official notification provides students, teachers, and schools with a clear roadmap of the weighting given to theory, practical, project work, and internal assessments.

Key Details of the 2026 Marking Scheme

The circular, published on the official CBSE website, is designed to enhance transparency and ensure accuracy in the assessment process.

Total Marks: Every subject across Class 10 and Class 12 carries a total weightage of 100 marks.

Class 10 Structure: The marks division for most Secondary subjects remains consistent with an 80:20 ratio (80 marks for Theory and 20 marks for Internal Assessment/Practicals).

Class 12 Structure: The Senior Secondary distribution is flexible, generally following one of these three formats:

80:20: (Theory: Internal Assessment) for humanities/language subjects.

70:30: (Theory: Practical/Internal) for certain science or applied subjects.

60:40: (Theory: Practical/Internal) for subjects with a heavy practical component.

Practical Dates: All practical examinations, project assessments, and internal assessments for both classes must be conducted between January 1 and February 14, 2026.

Mandatory Instructions for Schools

The CBSE has laid special emphasis on preventing common errors observed in previous years, particularly during the internal mark submission. Schools are strictly advised to:

Adhere to the Schedule: Complete all non-theory components within the prescribed window (Jan 1 to Feb 14, 2026).

Ensure Accuracy: Exercise extreme caution while uploading marks for Practical/Internal Assessments, as requests for corrections due to negligence will not be entertained later.

Logistics: Note the clarifications on the type and number of pages of answer books to be used for the final theory examinations.

This detailed breakdown empowers students to prioritize their preparation by understanding where marks are allocated, ensuring a focused approach to both written and skill-based components of their board exams.